Biography

ALIF is a Saudi artist born in 1986 and based in Tarout Island. He earned a bachelor's degree in English Linguistics and Translation from King Khalid University in Abha in 2008 and has worked in a wide range of positions in the oilfield sector. He began his artistic career as a graffiti artist in 2014 and expanded into other mediums, specifically sculpture, in 2018.

Alif's artistic practice, which he now pursues full-time, is a synthesis of influences from his surroundings and diverse backgrounds. He is known for his sculptural compositions that reimagine Arabic calligraphy at the intersection of contemporary design and heritage. His body of work ranges from small hand-carved pieces to large-scale sculptures and public installations that explore the themes of emotions, spirituality, and connection by transforming letters into physical forms that are both poetic and deeply connected to material.

Alif participated in numerous exhibitions, including the SARMD Downtown Design exhibition in Riyadh (2025), the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium (2025), Art Riyadh with Nayla Art Gallery (2024), and Tanween in Ithra’ (2021). His work has been collected by both private and public entities in Saudi Arabia and abroad, and he has received several awards, including the Tanween Grant of Ithra' in 2024, the Maan Grant of Athr Gallery in 2020, the Art Marathon Award of the General Entertainment Authority in Dammam in 2019, and the City Graffiti Grant of the Ministry of Tourism in Tarout in 2014. Alif contributes to the community by leading sculpting workshops at his studio on Tarout Island and for a variety of organizations in Saudi cities, including Ithra.

Resume

Selected exhibitions:

2026 Solo Exhibition, Riyadh, Saudi [upcoming]
2025 Downtown Design (Joint Exhibition), SARMD, Riyadh, Saudi
2025 From Now to Then (Sculpting Symposium), Riyadh, Saudi
2024 Art Riyadh (Group Exhibition), Nayla gallery, Riyadh, Saudi
2022 Eastern calligraphers (Group Exhibition), Desert Designs gallery, Al-Khobar, Saudi
2021 Tanween (Featured Artist), Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi
2019 East Art (Group Exhibition), Aramco cultural center, Dhahran, Saudi

Awards & grants:

2024 Tanween (Grant), Ithra – Maker Society, Dhahran, Saudi
2020 Maan (Grant), Athr Gallery, Jeddah, Saudi
2019 Art Marathon (Winner), General Entertainment Authority, Dammam, Saudi
2014 City Graffiti (Grant), Ministry of Tourism, Tarut, Saudi